Brian came to UIS as a transfer student in 2004. By the time he had completed his degree in December of 2005, he had shown himself to be a leader with integrity, inquisitive, willing to listen and think critically about his role as a police officer. During his time at UIS:
- Brian made the Dean’s List twice.
- He contributed as a member to UIS’ chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma, the national criminal justice honor society.
- He completed an internship with the Illinois Attorney General’s Investigative Unit.
- He received the Avery Brundage Scholarship, given to students “who are both gifted students and exceptional athletes, for their combined physical and mental development.”
- He was named the Champion of Character by the UIS men’s basketball team during his senior year.
While at UIS, Brian continued to serve in the Illinois Air National Guard, taking time to serve in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
Following graduation, Brian joined the Illinois Police Cadet class #113, where he served as class president. He graduated at the top of his class and joined the Illinois State Police in 2007. Less than a year later, Brian was killed in the line of duty.
Clearly, Brian was a gifted leader, dedicated to service, but he was also an excellent student. The Criminal Justice Department at UIS and its predecessor, the Social Justice Professions Program, have always encouraged students to think critically about their role in the community, no matter what profession CRJ students plan to enter, and to weigh their choices carefully and act deliberately for the good of all.
According to Ryan Williams, criminal justice department professor at UIS, Brian met the challenge of thinking this way: “Brian was what all of the CRJ faculty believed a police officer could and should be. He showed how auniversity education helps a person become a better police officer and provide better service to society. He was the kind of person who gave us all more confidence in thesystem we study, knowinghe was out there playing an important part in it.”
This is the kind of person Brian was—thoughtful and deliberate, combining leadership with learning, dedication to duty with a willingness to think critically about his role in community. We want to honor him with an endowed scholarship fund, and we are asking you to add to that fund through your gifts. We believe that a scholarship fund for other criminal justice students will be a perfect remembrance of Brian’s life. And we hope that you’ll be able to help in the education of more UIS students who are following in Brian’s footsteps.
Your gifts will help to endow this fund so that it will continue without end into the future. Please give generously. |
